Oregon State University authors expand a signature workshop into a free, research-based resource for online instructors
Faculty members across higher education face a growing challenge: developing online courses that not only deliver rigorous content, but also help every student feel seen, supported and capable of succeeding.
A new open-access book from Oregon State University offers research-driven, practical guidance to meet that challenge head-on.
“Inclusive Teaching Online: Evidence-Based Strategies to Support Student Success in Higher Education” distills years of instructional experience and pedagogical research into an accessible, comprehensive guide for anyone who teaches online. This free, peer-reviewed book equips faculty with concrete approaches to foster belonging, engagement and equitable learning outcomes in digital environments.
The book was written by Katherine McAlvage and Nadia Jaramillo Cherrez, both of whom are longtime members of the Oregon State University Ecampus course development and training team. Published this month by OSU’s Open Educational Resources Unit, the text expands upon the Ecampus signature workshop, Inclusive Teaching Online.
The workshop launched in 2020 and has helped hundreds of Oregon State faculty members learn strategies to make online learning environments more accessible, engaging and effective for all students. Building on that foundation, McAlvage and Jaramillo Cherrez have transformed the workshop’s evidence-based content into a comprehensive resource that will benefit faculty worldwide.
“Inclusive Teaching Online” illustrates practical ways to create welcoming, student-centered online learning environments — from course structure and communication to assessment and feedback — all grounded in current research.
“This book is unique in its focus on effective, inclusive facilitation in fully online learning environments, and it aims to give instructors the tools and recommendations that they need to serve the diverse students that we see take online courses today,” said McAlvage, the OSU Ecampus associate director of faculty development and support. “Instructors are busy, and we offer concrete suggestions that don’t necessarily take more time but may prompt faculty to spend their time differently.”
“Inclusive Teaching Online” illustrates practical ways to create welcoming, student-centered online learning environments — from course structure and communication to assessment and feedback — all grounded in current research. It also highlights real-world examples shared by Oregon State faculty who have completed the Ecampus workshop and gave permission to include their ideas and teaching approaches.
“Teaching in inclusive ways requires us to see the online learner as a whole person, recognizing that they are unique individuals balancing multiple responsibilities, needs and life circumstances, all of which shape how they engage in their online learning experiences,” said Jaramillo Cherrez, a senior instructional designer.
The authors’ combined expertise reflects the depth of Oregon State’s leadership in online education. Ecampus partners with nearly 1,300 OSU faculty partners to develop online courses, and more than 34,000 students took at least one online course in 2024-25. Oregon State has also been ranked among the nation’s 10 best online education providers by U.S. News & World Report for 11 consecutive years.
OSU’s commitment to inclusive excellence is rooted in its land-grant mission: expanding access to high-quality education and advancing student success for learners from all backgrounds. Efforts like this open text reflect the university’s role as a national leader in research-based teaching and learning practices, a key objective in the Division of Educational Ventures’ strategic plan.
“Inclusive Teaching Online” is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License, and it is freely accessible online at https://open.oregonstate.education/teachingonline.
